Pianotech

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Tuner or Technician?

  • 1.  Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 18:58
    Hello all,

    I was wondering, why do we take offense at being called tuners? Technically, we are technicians. I know that. But, throughout the centuries we have been called tuners. Only in recent decades has there been an effort to switch our title over to "technicians". 

    Maybe it's just that Technicians sounds more professional. It probably is. But, I still take pride in making someone's favorite instrument sound better. I suppose I like being called the piano tuner. It was a title of distinction for centuries. It is one I'll wear with honor now.

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 2.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 18:58
    Most likely it is because a technician is a person who (ostensibly) can work on all parts of the piano and not just a person who adjusts the tension of the strings.

    I call myself a piano technician or a tuner-technician. I doubt any of my customers care one whit about this distinction.

    You'd be amazed at some of the "repairs" I've seen. I'd have to guess those were done by those we call "tooners." Not much skill for repairs and regulation, but some of them have learned how to tune reasonably well. I'm sure we all have many stories about tooners.

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    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany MS
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  • 3.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 18:59
    Benjamin,

    I agree with what John said but I can add some more.  You were also right about the word, "technician" just sounding more professional, so that is one reason.  To be an RPT, as you know, requires more than tuning skills.  It also requires a certain amount of general knowledge.

    Our organization formed 60 years ago.  100 years ago, there were more than 300 piano manufacturers operating in the USA.  Nearly every middle class or above home had a piano.  There was a lot larger demand then for tuning services.  One could have easily specialized only in tuning and refer most repairs and regulation to specialists.  Piano Tuners often learned that skill on one of the factories.

    The Great Depression decimated the piano industry but after World War II, there was an economic boom and the manufacturers that were left began making the smaller, more affordable instruments.  TV and radio were available but still, many middle class homes bought one of these and they mostly only needed tuning so once again, a person could make a good living being simply a piano tuner.

    As time went on, the industry diminished but the pianos were still around but now, they needed more than tuning.  It became necessary to have a wider set of skills in order to make a living.  PTG always promoted the idea of being a Piano Technician rather than a piano tuner.  There were some people who did not like the idea and still wanted to remain simply tuners.  That is still possible, of course but it relegates a person to Associate Membership only.

    These days, we like to lend some dignity to any job.  That is why what used to be called "car mechanics" are known as Automotive Technicians.  The modern automobile is after all, far more complex than it used to be so to be an automotive technician, you have to go to school and get certified for it.  We call restaurant workers, "servers" rather than waiter or waitress.  We have Flight Attendants rather than stewards or stewardesses.  We have maintenance staff or custodians rather than janitors.  I am sure there are many more examples of how society has tried to lend some dignity to all kinds of service professions.

    I have always found it interesting, however that in the French language culture, the way they view the equivalents of both "tuner" and "technician" is exactly the opposite of the way we do.  To the French, un accordeur de pianos is a dignified title whereas to call someone un technicien de pianos is very demeaning.  Spanish speaking culture is similar:  un afinador de pianos sounds far more dignified than, un técnico de pianos.

    So, I would say it is up to you and your prerogative as to how you may think of yourself and what you prefer to call yourself.  People still do ask the question about "piano technician".  The general public may most often view the terms interchangeably so with your clients, it probably does not matter but when you interact with PTG Members, just be advised that most of them would prefer to be called piano technicians rather than piano tuners, even among those for whom tuning is their primary skill.

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    William Bremmer
    RPT
    Madison WI
    608-238-8400
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  • 4.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    Bill,

    I see your point. I've known this for some time, I guess I was just wondering why some take offense at the title "tuner," as if it's a bad word or something. Personally, I consider myself a technician, because I do everything that can be done in someone's home. But, I take absolutely no offense when someone says "I knew it was time to call the piano tuner, so I called you."

    But, I would never refer to colleagues as tuners, unless they prefer that. Just wondering why it's so offensive to some.

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03

    But, I would never refer to colleagues as tuners, unless they prefer that. Just wondering why it's so offensive to some.
    Benjamin Sanchez,  10-27-2017 22:03
    Just so you know. You can me a piano tuner. I'm okay with that too... 😏😉

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    "That Tuning Guy"
    Scott Kerns
    www.thattuningguy.com
    Tunic OnlyPure & TuneLab user
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  • 6.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03

    but I can add some more.
    William Bremmer,  10-27-2017 16:54
    Very interesting Bill. Thanks for the insightful history!

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    "That Tuning Guy"
    Scott Kerns
    www.thattuningguy.com
    Tunic OnlyPure & TuneLab user
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  • 7.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 18:59
    There is a difference between a technician and a "tuner". Since I retired, there is a gentleman that travels 400 miles by train once per year to tune pianos in our town. He is not a guild member. He strictly tunes pianos and unless he is told otherwise, he tunes pianos at whatever pitch they happen to be at on that day. He does absolutely no repairs. He will not adjust a sticking damper, replace a broken string etc. He says he only tunes. On his last trip one client had a damper out of adjustment. He would not even attempt to make the repair. The worst of it is that he is the only person who will come up here to tune pianos. Our town has tried to get someone else to no avail. My health does not allow me to continue serving clients in this area. So far I have managed to carry out free tunings and a few repairs for our local Roman Catholic Cathedral, but that may also come to an end as my health continues to go downhill. 





  • 8.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 18:59
    Terry,

    Sorry to hear of your health problems!

    The situation you mentioned sounds pretty sad. I don't know why people don't invest a bit of time to learn how pianos actually work. I think there are a number of people like that in my area. I hear through others of a few folks who claim to be able to tune. Some of my work has gone to them, but I'm sure it will come back eventually. People like that usually don't last too long.

    Against, best wishes in your struggles with poor health.


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    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany MS
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  • 9.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:02
    I'm very sorry to hear about your health problems, Terry. I hope you can find some way to turn them around or at least slow them down.

    I do worry about whole regions where professional tuners have become a thing of the past.

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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  • 10.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:02
    Thanks for your kind wordJ john and Susan. it does not look promising. I had a small stroke last week and now they have taken away my drivers license. I am hoping to get it back, but that is not certain. 

    Terry






  • 11.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    What terrible news. I hope you recover from it quickly.

    A total change in your life, but one would have liked it to be voluntary instead of coerced.

    Are there things less physical than piano tuning which you enjoy doing?

    Best wishes,

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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  • 12.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    Terry

    Regarding the lack of a qualified tuner/technician in your area, have considered contacting the chapter presidents of several chapters near you to see if there are some tuners who would be willing to come to your area if you helped set up the appointments. Instead of just once a year, of there is enough work, maybe they could come several times a year.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 13.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    Wim,

    As far as I can tell there are only six RPTs in the whole province. There is no one within 400 miles of me with the qualifications and possibly one or two who are working on it. They are all quite busy, too busy to make the 400 mile journey up here to tune  about a dozen pianos. Our local chapter seems to have  become totally inactive. I have not heard of a chapter meeting in several years. I stopped going to meetings years ago when my health started to go and it was difficult to make the 800 mile round trip just to attend a two hour meeting. Hey, you could take a holiday from Hawaii and come up here to the north. I'm sure the few piano owners left up in this area would really like that. Have a man tai foe me.

    Terry






  • 14.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    Terry

    I think I might have you confused with someone else. I thought you lived in Upsate NY.  

    Where do you live?


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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 15.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    Terry

    i just found you on Google map.  Man, you are in a remote area. Is piano tuning your primary profession?  How many clients do you have?

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 16.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    It seems as though the majority of piano owners are folks 40+  and the title Piano Tuner fits their old fashioned image of what we do. I've never heard of a construction carpenter being called a building technician or a Judge being called a Legal Technician, yet they are always looking into, and sometimes adjusting the technical nuances of the law. 
    Plus, in certain parts of the USA folks say, "Oh, ya'll are one of them thar' Pieano Tooner's." And that sums it up in a nutshell.  

    Bob





  • 17.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2017 21:01
    Terry,

    Just curious, but how were you ever able to earn a living (in your healthy years) with so few clients?  Of course I suppose you travelled quite a bit, yes?

    What is the main attraction to the area (if there is one)?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 18.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-29-2017 10:38
    Peter,

    I never made a living as a piano technician. I did it part time on weekends when I was not working. I was mostly self taut. I worked for the federal government for over 31 years until they closed down my location. I was fortunate to receive a pension because of my years of service. I was then that I decided to work to become an RPT. Two RPTs offered to assist me. aI was good enough that aI was able to work at the university where one was the only technician. I would work four separate weeks during the school year tuning the practice room and studio pianos, generally 35 to forty in a week. Then in 2004 aI was told to bring all of my tools on my next trip as I was to take the tecdhnical exam. I passed all sections with marks in the 90s. Several months later my mentor arranged for me to take the tuning exam at the Banff centre of theArts in Banff Alberta. aI gave myself a 50 percent chance of passing, butt ai passed with flying colours. I obtained 3 marks of 100 and the rest of the marks were in  the 90s. The lowest mark was 92% for stability. Unfortunately in 2008 I had my first stroke and have not been able to continue with my career as an rpt. I still maintain my RPT status, but I can no longer tune. I had another stroke last week and now it is difficult to even write or type. My drivers license has been revoked too.

    Terry Beckingham






  • 19.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-29-2017 13:30
    I see.

    I am very sorry about this sequence of events.  Does someone come periodically to service the university still? I believe that is in The Pas?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 20.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-30-2017 09:02
    Here's a little tidbit to add to the discussion.As my job description below indicates, I work in the field of marketing, among other things. As such, I pay attention to terms and words that people use. As an example of this, I regularly monitor Google searches as they pertain to the piano business in general and our business in particular. I just looked up how many times the terms "piano tuner" and "piano technician" were Googled in the last 30 days.. Tuner = 471     Technician = 24    Now, let's take this for what it's worth. Feel free to call yourself whatever you want. Just be aware, that when the vast majority of piano owners look for someone with our skillset, they search for a tuner. Definitely, keep this in mind if you have a website.

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    Charles Rempel
    Dampp-Chaser Corp.
    HENDERSONVILLE NC
    828-692-8271
    Charles
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  • 21.  RE: Tuner or Technician?

    Posted 10-28-2017 19:03
    I submit it happened in January of 1958. Going from Tuner to Technician that is. Found this by accident today.
    -chris


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    I have a piano in my Nuclear Fallout Shelter, and my competitors don't. How silly is that?

    chernobieffpiano.com
    865-986-7720
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